Chapter Eight

Elena and Bonnie are cooking breakfast the next day in Elena's kitchen. While Bonnie was pouring orange juice, Elena continuously flipped the same pancake.

"Have you talked to Caroline recently?" Elena wondered as she flipped the pancake once more before dropping it onto a plate.

"Yeah, we hung out the other day. There's nothing too new with her. She mostly just talked about her crush on Stefan and how she's too chicken to pursue him."

Handing Bonnie her pancake, Elena adds, "Well, I can't say that you two don't have anything in common. Come on, Bonnie, tell me when you're gonna make a move on Jeremy."

"When I grow a pair, 'Lena, which is never going to happen."

"Ugh, Bonnie, you're a freaking witch! Jeremy would think that you're the coolest person ever!"

"Elena, why're you playing matchmaker all of a sudden? I mean, it's something I would've expected from Caroline, but not you," Bonnie quips, taking a large chunk off her pancake and shoving it into her mouth.

"I'm not playing matchmaker, I'm merely pushing you in the right direction. For example, tonight, you, Jeremy, Caroline, Stefan, Damon, and I are all going on a triple date. As in we're all going to hang out at the Salvatore house and try to get you couples alone."

"What? Elena, that's just a disaster waiting to happen," Bonnie laughs, sipping her orange juice. "Plus, Caroline doesn't know what Damon is. Do you think that'll bode well?"

"Live a little, Bon. Take some risks, stop making excuses for something you really want. Let me do this," Elena practically pleads with a smile.

Coming to the conclusion that Elena's stubbornness will win out, Bonnie reluctantly agrees. "Fine, fine. It's a date."

Grinning ear to ear, Elena takes out her phone, "Fantastic. You go ask Jeremy out, and I'll call Caroline to let her know to come over to the boarding house around six."

"What have I gotten myself into?" Bonnie mutters to herself quietly. She makes her way up to Jeremy's room and knocks on the door.

"Come in!"

Hesitantly, Bonnie steps into his room and plasters a confident smile on her face. "You, me, boarding house, six o'clock."

Eyes widening, Jeremy flashes a grin, "Bonnie, are you asking me out on a date?"

"More or less. It's actually a triple date that Elena's setting up, and she won't take no for an answer."

"Works for me. I'll take what I can get, Bon," Jeremy chuckles. "Did you want me to pick you up, or…?"

"Nah, I'll convenience you by staying here until it's time to go. Keep in mind that it might all end in disaster."

"So it's a triple date with you and me, Elena and Damon, and…"

"Caroline and Stefan," Bonnie confesses.

"Woah, Caroline's into Stefan?"

"He's better than Tyler."

"Let's be honest, anyone's better than Tyler for Caroline. He can be a real dick."

"Agreed. So...six?"

"Six. Lighten up, Bennett, I like you," Jeremy admits with a laugh.

Blushing, Bonnie nods and exits the room, descending down the stairs just as Elena finishes up a call.

"So, I just got off the phone with Caroline and she practically squealed at the idea of a triple date, especially with Stefan." Elena says as she dials Damon's number.

"Hi," Elena says in a flirtatious voice once he picks up.

"Ooh, it sounds like someone's in a good mood. I take it you had a good night's sleep?" Damon replies, equally flirty.

"Mm, I did. You were true to your word when you said you'd carry me home, so thank you."

"Oh, it was my pleasure."

"So, I was calling to let you know that we're having a triple date tonight. And it's going to be at your house," Elena adds, "I thought it'd be a good idea to let you know."

"And who would the other couples be that are joining us, hmm?" Damon questions in his silky-smooth voice.

"Bonnie and Jeremy, for one."

"Finally! Bon-Bon decided to take a risk and ask him out?"

"More like I forced her to, but it all worked out. And the other couple will be Stefan and Caroline."

"Even better! Stef's had a bit of a crush on her since we were kids."

"Great! Caroline's got a crush on him too. So, I guess let Stefan know that he's got a date with her and the three of them will be over at six o'clock."

"And when will you be over?" Damon inquires while wiggling his eyebrows.

"Right now, if you want."

"Oh, I want, all right. Come on over, 'Lena, it'll make my day," Damon says in a sing-song voice.

"I'll be right there."

"Can't wait," Damon replies huskily before cheerily saying, "Bye, now!"

When Elena hangs up, Bonnie looks over at her with narrowed eyes. "You're leaving me alone in the house with Jeremy?"

"Ah, relax, Bon. He's my brother, he won't bite. It might do you two some good, eh? I'll see you at six," Elena states before leaving the house.

—

Elena arrives at the boarding house, and she's about to knock when the door swings open, revealing a smirking Damon.

"I've been expecting you." Damon's leaning against the doorframe in his dark blue button-up shirt.

"Have you, now? Perfect." Elena practically tackles Damon and he wraps his arms around her waist as they crash their lips together.

When they break apart, Elena sees Stefan over Damon's shoulder. She cheerfully waves, "Oh, hi, Stef! How are you?"

"I'm good, Elena. And I guess I should be thankful for you setting up this date with Caroline."

"Of course. Don't think I didn't notice how you two stare at each other. You guys would be really cute together."

Blushing, Stefan nods and turns his gaze to Damon. "Brother, no embarrassing stories, I beg you."

"Hah, no promises, Stefan. Now run along and get ready for your date with Caroline and two other couples."

"Jeremy and Bonnie aren't a couple. Yet," Elena says with a subtle wink.

—

At exactly six o'clock, the doorbell rings. Stefan was back in his bedroom, and Elena was lounging on the couch with Damon, watching TV.

Removing Damon's arm from around her shoulders, she gives him a pointed look. "Your house, your door, you answer."

"But you were the one who invited them. And plus, it's practically your house too."

"Are these just excuses so you don't have to get up? Because they're pretty poor. Answer the door, lazy-ass," Elena replies with a smile and a slight push.

"Fine, fine. Sheesh, bossypants. Don't say I never did anything for you," Damon sang as he walked over to the door. Opening it, he's greeted by the faces of Bonnie, Jeremy, and Caroline.

"Bon-Bon, Little Gilbert, and Blondie! So nice of you guys to grace us with your presence. Come on in." Damon steps aside to allow them in and then closes the door. "Stefan, come out here! Your girlfriend-to-be is waiting for you!" Damon yells up the stairs.

Caroline's face turns a shade of crimson as she turns to Elena.

"Sorry about him, he doesn't know when to shut up."

"Ah, no, I fully expected Damon to say something along the lines of that. No harm, because he's actually speaking the truth," Caroline says with a wink.

When Stefan descends down the stairs, Damon rolls his eyes at him. "Took you long enough, brother. Your girl's waiting for you."

After shooting Damon a glare, Stefan turns to Caroline and they exchange quiet greetings, both of their faces flushing.

Bonnie clears her throat when she sees them getting ooey-gooey. "Alright, what're we going to do? I'm up for anything, really."

Squealing in delight, Caroline looks around at everyone. "I've got an idea! Let's play Spin the Bottle!"

"What is this, a high school party? No, no way," Damon says, shaking his head.

"Well, the other option is Seven Minutes in Heaven. Unless you got any better ideas, hmm?"

When no one objects, Caroline smiles happily. "It's settled, then. We'll be playing Seven Minutes in Heaven, but we'll incorporate the bottle. Whoever the bottle lands on is the person who gets to go in the closet with the person who spun it. Deal?"

After no one else says anything, Elena sighs and sits on the floor, "Yeah, let's do it. Everyone sit on the floor in a circle."

"What? I'm not playing," Damon says with a roll of his eyes.

"Yes, you are. If I have to play, so do you," Elena retorts, tugging on his pant leg. Sighing, Damon sits down next to Elena along with the rest of them.

"Alright, who's going first? You, Blondie?"

Caroline spins the bottle and watches it land on Jeremy.

"Hmmph. Okay, you, me, closet."

When Caroline and Jeremy enter the closet, the rest of them start laughing.

"Did you see Jer's face? Caroline was definitely not his top choice."

"Yeah, we can guess who is. I feel like we should just rig the bottle so we don't waste time. Stefan, you want to go in with Blondie and Bon-Bon wants time with Little Gilbert."

"I think that's best. In case you didn't notice, the whole point of this triple date was to set you guys up together."

After sitting in silence for a while, Jeremy and Caroline emerge from the closet, both looking more than a little annoyed.

"Who's next then?"

"Bonnie, you go."

Bonnie spins the bottle and it lands on Stefan who subtly turns it to Jeremy. "Oh, would you look at that? Bonnie and Jeremy. Have fun in the closet, you two."

Blushing, Bonnie stands up with Jeremy and they both enter the closet.

"Ooh, what do you guys think they're going to do in there?" Caroline wonders aloud.

"Eh, we probably don't want to ask questions we don't want the answers to. Just as long as they make some progress in their relationship, I'll be happy," Elena admits.

Once seven minutes have passed, Bonnie and Jeremy exit the closet with smiles on their faces. Jeremy's hair is more tousled than before and Bonnie's avoiding eye contact with everyone.

"Okay, I'm assuming that went pretty well. Stefan, your turn."

Stefan spins the bottle and it lands on Elena who spins it towards Caroline. "Wow, Stefan and Caroline. How unexpected."

Stefan offers his hand to Caroline who happily takes it and they enter the closet together.

"What are the chances that they have sex right then and there?"

Elena's eyes widen and she playfully smacks Damon in the arm. In return, he mockingly rubs it and raises an eyebrow at her.

"Bossy and abusive, huh?"

"And you can't even say you hate it," Elena smiles and pecks Damon on the lips.

Time passes and there's still no sign of Caroline and Stefan coming. Jeremy stares at his watch.

"It's been almost nine minutes. What should we do?"

Damon stands up and swings open the closet door, revealing a very disheveled Stefan and Caroline making out. They both gasp and glare at him, which he returns lightheartedly.

"If I had let you guys go on any further, you'd be having sex in my suitcase."

They shuffle out of the closet but don't let go of each other, which causes a massive grin to appear on Elena's face. She mentally congratulates herself on being a successful matchmaker.

"Well, Elena and Damon are the only ones who didn't go in the closet yet."

"Uh-uh. If we go in that closet, we won't be coming out in under seven minutes," Damon retorts with a smirk plastered on his face. Elena smacks his shoulder this time and he responds with a searing kiss on the lips.

The onlookers stare at them for a moment and then shake their heads, standing up.

"You're right, we shouldn't let them in the closet. It definitely wouldn't be this PG in there," Stefan says.

"We can still hear you, brother," Damon murmurs after him and Elena part. "It's not like you and Care-Bear were being PG in the closet."

Reddening again, Stefan briskly walks into the kitchen, Caroline following close behind.

"I'm guessing it's dinnertime, huh? Caroline and I will cook some chicken parmesan," Elena says and then enters the kitchen to see Stefan and Caroline kissing again. "Oh, my. What have I done?" Elena says to herself quietly.

As soon as they notice Elena, the two lovebirds break apart. Clearing his throat, Stefan gives Elena a nod before exiting the kitchen.

"So...is he good?" Elena questions Caroline as she begins to get ingredients out.

Without hesitation, Caroline nods, "Of course he's good! Oh, god, he's amazing. He does this thing with-"

Abruptly, Elena puts her hand up to stop Caroline from going into too much detail. "I don't want to know everything. It's dinnertime, anyway, so you're gonna help me make chicken parmesan."

"Alrighty, I can do that." Caroline starts taking stuff out of the fridge. "What, are the only two things in this recipe chicken and cheese?"

"Care, there are a lot of things in chicken parmesan, not just chicken and cheese. I'm going to beat these eggs, so, uh, you could probably cut the chicken into thinner strips."

"M'kay, boss." Caroline gives Elena a little salut before opening the package of chicken breasts.

Elena butters the skillet after she finishes beating the eggs. Seeing that Caroline's cut a few strips of chicken, Elena takes one and dips it in the eggs first, and then lays it in a bowl of breadcrumbs.

Damon enters the kitchen as Elena's rolling the chicken around in the crumbs. "Mm, don't forget to wash your hands. Don't want you ladies to get salmonella," He tells them with a wink.

"Riiight, well, germs be damned. I'll make sure not to put my fingers in my mouth anytime soon, right, Care?" Elena takes the chicken strip from the breadcrumbs and places it in the buttered skillet.

"Haha, yeah. But really, how often do you wash your hands, 'Lena? I mean-" Caroline suddenly stops talking and Elena looks over. She inwardly curses her luck, "Damn it, Care."

Holding a bleeding finger, Caroline bites her lip. "Sorry...you really shouldn't have put me in charge of cutting things. I get distracted and don't look-"

Her words are cut off by screams, because Caroline's neck was officially in Damon's mouth.

"Shit! Damon!"

Stefan enters the kitchen and freaks out when he sees that Caroline's being eaten by his brother. "Damon! Damn it, Damon! Stop it!" Stefan attempts to pull Damon away from her but just gets pushed back, causing him to bump into Elena.

Caroline's whimpers are ceased, due to her losing consciousness.

"Damon, let go! Stop, you're going to kill her!" Elena desperately looks around the kitchen. Her eyes land on a drawer, which she quickly opens and pulls something out. After mumbling an apology, she stabs Damon in the neck with the syringe.

Both him and Caroline fall to the floor, unconscious. Elena and Stefan exchange shocked glances before kneeling in front of them.

"What'd you stick him with?"

"Vervain dart. I put them in here, just in case…" Elena feels for Caroline's pulse, which is beating. It's light, but it's there.

"God, Elena, she's barely alive. What...what are we going to do?"

Shaking her head, Elena grabs the knife from the cutting board and slices Damon's wrist. Gingerly, she holds it up to Caroline's mouth. After a minute, Caroline begins drinking the blood and her neck wound heals.

"Oh, wow...that's really freaky. It's like it was never there…"

"Yeah, vampire blood has healing properties. I, uh, I don't understand. I thought Damon was getting better with the urges."

"I don't know, he wouldn't talk about them with me. I think he was always a little embarrassed when talking about consuming blood."

"Okay, Stefan, can you get Damon in his room? We need to clean this mess up and explain what the hell just happened to Caroline, and probably Jeremy."

Stefan agrees and picks Damon up under the arms, dragging him up the stairs.

Elena looks at Caroline who's regaining consciousness. She blinks and then starts hyperventilating.

"Oh, god, Elena, his face...oh my god, oh my god! Get me out of this damn house!" Caroline struggles to stand up so Elena braces her.

"Caroline, I need you to listen. There are things that you don't know, things that can't be explained. The only way for you not to be scared is to give us the chance to explain."

"He bit...he freaking bit my neck! How the hell do you explain that?! He...he…" Caroline reaches for her neck and her eyes widen when she doesn't feel a wound. "He bit my neck, right? I don't even feel anything except blood."

Stefan returns to the kitchen and blows out a relieved breath. "We can explain everything, Care, if you'll let us. Trust me, it'll help you sleep at night."

"Help me sleep at night?" Caroline repeats, "How is this going to help me sleep at night?! My finger that I know I just cut a few minutes ago doesn't even have a scratch!"

"C'mon, let's go into the living room. Jeremy needs to know this stuff, too."

Grudgingly, Caroline follows Stefan and Elena into the living room, still covered in dried blood. Bonnie and Jeremy stand up immediately and look over the three of them.

"I heard screams. What happened? Are you guys okay? Where's Damon?" Bonnie shoots off questions left and right while Jeremy stands there, looking dumbfounded.

"Caroline, why're you covered in blood? Guys, what's going on…?" Jeremy looks from Caroline to his sister. "Elena…?"

Rubbing her forehead, Elena looks at everyone in the room. "It's...it's a lot to take in."

Caroline's lip is still quivering when she sits down on the couch. "Will someone just explain to me what happened? I'd like to know why I was just bit by Damon Salvatore."

"You were what?! Damon bit you? Wait...what kind of bite, because if it was sexual or something…" Jeremy trails off when Elena starts glaring at him.

Elena turns to Bonnie with a pleading look on her face. "Bonnie, could you please tell them everything? Stefan and I need to have a talk…"

Being the understanding person that Bonnie is, she nods her head. "Yeah, go ahead. I'll tell them the whole thing."

"Okay, thank you. Stefan, a word?"

Elena leads him back into the kitchen and then runs her fingers through her hair in a stressful manner. "We need to keep in mind that blood still triggers him. God, if I knew…"

"But you didn't. Don't blame yourself, Elena. But you know, in time, Damon's going to tip the proverbial scale in the wrong direction and risk falling off. We need to do everything in our power to prevent that from happening."

"Most definitely. Was he, umm, still unconscious by the time you…"

"He was. We should probably, uh, go check on him."

"Right…"

Elena and Stefan make their way up the stairs and towards Damon's room. Elena slowly opens the door and then rests her head on the doorframe.

"We're just not that lucky, are we?"

Groaning, Stefan enters the room. "No, no, we're not. Where the hell did he go?"